Sewing Machine Problems: From Bad to Worse: UPDATED!

[amberthesugarcat]

Maybe there is someone out there who can help me!

I have been happily sewing fleece pocket diapers. The first three sewed up great, but I made 2 today and I want to throw my sewing machine out the window. Every time I try to stitch any type of stitch, after a few inches my top thread breaks. This happens whether I am sewing an edge on microfleece or sewing through Aplix/fleece/microfleece.

I have replaced my needle, cleaned the lint out of the machine, tried to sew slower, and even changed the tension and stitch length. This did not happen once with my first 3 diapers, but now it happens constantly... I kept on going to finish the two diapers, but the sewing looks pretty miserable since I had to keep on re-stitching where the thread broke. But I am SOOOO stubborn and wanted to get them done.

Does anyone out there have any suggestions why this is happening? I just want to cry with frustration. I was having so much fun and now I am just miserable and hate my machine. It is over 10 years old, but was hardly ever used until the last few months.

Thanks!!!

[Kari_mom]

Have you tried a different spool of thread? Also clean out your tension discs, double-check your threading, double-check your needle to be sure it is in the right way...

Have you tried pulling on your top thread in different spots to make sure it can feed easily but with some tension after it goes through the tension discs? Sometimes you can isolate the problem this way.

It probably isn't a biggie, just a frustrating stupid little thing.

[marasmum]

Oh, I feel your pain! Your experience sounds just like mine a few weeks ago... I was all finished with my pocket diapers, just needed to sew the aplix on and my top thread kept breaking (like ANGRY breaking, with lots of fuzz and mess). I wanted to cry. After checking everything and trying all different sorts of combinations (needles, thread tension, different presser feet, etc.), I finally decided that it HAD to be my machine. Even though it is only 2 months old, I took it into the shop. It took the repairman a while to figure it out, but the machine was, indeed, broken (some sort of timing issue). It is now fixed and running great.
So after all that, what I am suggesting is that you might want to consider taking your sewing machine in to the shop and getting it checked out, especially if you have exhausted every possible solution at home.

HTH,
Laura

[Jes'sBeth]

It took me at least an hour to solve my stupid thread problem. Talk about frustrating! ARRRRGGGGGHHHHH! I was ANGRY that that evil machine. I took everything apart that I knew I'd be able to get back together. I poked, prodded and cleaned more than I ever had. I oiled. I sewed a bunch of test scraps to see it do the same thing over and over.

It was a loose screw on the bobbin holder thingy that was totally killing the bottom thread tension. An hour to find a loose screw :

I almost cried with joy when I sewed that test scrap after tightening the screw

It was the same as you too... everything was good then all of a sudden it all went merrily out the window. I think our machines do it just to test our patience :LOL

(I second the cleaning out of the tension discs)

[amberthesugarcat]

Thanks guys! I was thinking that I did not have any problems until I put some new thread on. It was an old Coats that should be fine, but that is when the problem started happening.

OK, what are the tension discs??? I have looked in my manual and I don't have a clue! I recentely oiled everything, but I might go ahead and do that again. I think it was knocking some. If I can't fix this I will bring it in to get it serviced...

Sewing flannel and fleece makes a lot of lint, so perhaps that is one of my problems. This is ruining my marriage. The last 2 nights (the only time I can sew) I should have been cuddled up with my sweetie, and instead I am cursing my machine!!! He is going to throw it out of the window if I don't.

[Kari_mom]

Oh no, knocking might be a timing issue.

The tension discs are the two circles that the thread goes through right next to the tension dial. Fold a clean scrap of a cotton woven in half and use that to 'floss' between the discs.

Also check under the plate where the needle goes in and out and see if there are any threads caught.

I hope you figure it out soon. When you do, maybe you should make your honey a present for being so understanding.

[StrawHatBrat]

I don't have any suggestions that weren't already mentioned.... but I wanted to say I FEEL YOUR PAIN!
I am a novice at sewing so if anything goes wrong it's a try it all until it's right again. I have cried, swore, everything short of throwing the machine down the stairs! I just know how you feel, that's all. Wishing you sewing machine health! I hope it's a cheap fix, whatever it is.

[amberthesugarcat]

Well, I changed thread and decided to clean my machine and try to find the tension discs. The way my machine is set up (Kenmore, 13 years old) you can't access them very well without a screwdriver.

Sooooo...

I got the screwdriver out, removed the area containing my tension area, and out explodes a spring! Whether it was already loose or came off when I started taking things apart I can't say. My husband gave it one look during his lunch, shook his head, laughed, and said "maybe we should not get it fixed". Jealous of a machine! He is going to look at it tonight, but handy as he is he does not know sewing machines.

I have called a few places and I am looking at $60 just to look at it. And the darn thing cost about $120 new when I bought it. Plus I have not been completely happy with it. It was my first sewing machine.

So, anyone out there have any suggestions for a new machine that is less than $200 that would be good for diaper making (can sew thick layers)?

Singer, Simplicity, Euro-Pro, Brother??? Or should I get my old Kenmore fixed? This is too sad, I was so into sewing.

[CamsMama]

My in laws got me this machine from Sears for Christmas last year. I love it! It sews wonderfully and the only problem I've had is that it's picky & doesn't like to sew if the lint builds up around the bobbin. I'm getting good at taking that area apart! It's right at $200, but I think it's worth it.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=02016221000

HTH!

[Kari_mom]

Maybe your dh can fix it, if he can get past his jealousy. He is cracking me up though. :LOL

[CarrieMF]

I was thinking that I did not have any problems until I put some new thread on. It was an old Coats that should be fine, but that is when the problem started happening

Up until the spring came off I was going to say that it was probaby a bad batch of thread and that's why it was breaking.

The spring coming off is hard to say whether it caused a problem or if it is now a secondary problem(ie it wouldn't have come off if you hadn't opened that spot).

[amberthesugarcat]

I am so thinking it was a bad batch of thread, and now because of my stupidity (to not test it after putting some new thread on it) I have a dead machine. My dh will try to fix it tonight, but he is not too hopeful.

I am such an ass!

[amberthesugarcat]

OK, this is strange, but typical. My loving dh looked at my machine tonight (while laughing at me). I stayed in the other room with baby because I stress him out when I go "Can you figure it out? Do you know what is wrong? Do you need any help? Etc. "

After a few minutes he comes in and says "I put it back together, but I don't know where that spring came from so I just left it out." I kind of laughed and said "well, I guess it won't work". He looked at me, ready to be mad, and said "Sometimes those types of springs are not completely necessary and the machine can still work". I rolled my eyes and told him I would try it out after my ds went to bed.

So in an hour or so I went in there, changed the thread, turned it on and started sewing. And it worked. And not only did it work, but I have never seen it work so well. It is so smooth and quiet. I tried everything, sure I was going to find something wrong so I could justify getting a new machine. I tried every stitch, changing the tension and lengths. Everything, and I mean everything worked. I tried to thread a bobbin, reverse, turn the light off and on. And it all worked, worked like it has never worked before. I felt like I had been driving a 1992 Ford Escort (my old car) and I had moved up to a Mercedes.

So who looks stupid. I am sure one day (probably tomorrow when I try to sew) I will figure out why that little spring is important, but until that moment my husband is King. I guess he deserves to be cuddled tonight.

Thanks guys! I am off to cut some fabric to sew a few more pockets tomorrow.

[momma_andi]

Yay! Glad your dh was able to fix it! I'm not that lucky...my dh isn't very mechanical. I have a very old Kenmore also and mine was working great the first couple times I used it, then the under stitches just started bunching up and jamming the machine. It drove me nuts. I've tried everything to fix it, that I finally went to Sears and bought a new Kenmore with a top loading bobbin. I am pregnant and just couldn't deal with it. I still have it and someday when I have the energy i'll probably figure out what went wrong...but for now it is in storage.

[Kari_mom]

That is so hilarious! Way to go, DH!

I am glad your machine works now. I wonder what the spring does, anyway. Keep it in case you ever get a tune-up and have a chance to ask, ok?

[Jes'sBeth]

:
THAT sounds like my house! I wonder if the spring had popped from somewhere else, had broken and was catching on something. It probably just made it to someplace to really jam things up yesterday.

Hey, if it works, don't think too hard about it! That's such a great save! So glad your machine works again (but hey, does that mean you need to sew less and hang out with hubby more? )

[amberthesugarcat]

Good question Beth! I am probably back to my old habits, but I will try to spend some extra time with him. I don't know why he is jealous. I guess I need to go take apart the TV and we will be even!!!

Actually he is a great guy and keeps me laughing. I am so excited to hit the machine today. I am off to the fabric store this afternoon. I can't wait!

My addiction for buying diapers has moved to making diapers...